Nebraska HS Football: Class D-1 Playoff Preview/Predictions
– Games on Thursday, October 24
– Selections in BOLD
– Brackets Reseeded in Second Round
– Class D-2 SUPER Eight Man Preview
Class D-1 Points Per Game – OFFENSE
Stanton – 54.8; Sandy Creek 54.4; Hartington/Newcastle – 54.3; Summerland – 50.9; Nebraska City Lourdes – 49.0; Hemingford – 48.5; Shelby-Rising City – 48.5; Arapahoe – 47.1; Pleasanton – 46.5; Ravenna – 46.3; McCool Junction – 45.3
Class D-1 Points Per Game – DEFENSE
Sandy Creek – 9.0; Arapahoe – 13.1; West Point GACC – 13.9; Dundy County-Stratton – 14.0; North Platte St. Patrick’s – 14.6; Crofton – 15.8; Hartington/Newcastle – 17.0; Perkins County – 17.3; Pleasanton – 18.5; Summerland – 18.5; Shelby-Rising City – 20.5
WEST
Niobrara/Verdigre (3-5) at No. 2 Sandy Creek (8-0)
– Led by senior QB Ethan Shaw (1,292 passing, 23 TD’s; 1,035 rushing, 18 TD’s), the Cougars average 53.4 points per game heading into the playoffs. Connor Rempe (702 total yards, 12 TD’s) and freshman Kamerin Sealey (831 total yards, 18 TD’s) provide additional playmakers on offense, while DL Hudson Devlin (63 tackles, 10 TFL, 5 sacks) is one of the leaders on defense. For Niobrara/Verdigre, QB Cash Wickersham (812 total yards, 11 TD’s) leads the production on offense, while LB Connor Thomson (85 tackles, 6 TFL) and DL/LB Coy Wickersham (70 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks) are a few of the top performers on defense.
Sandhills Valley (3-5) at No. 6 Pleasanton (8-0)
– In Week 8, Pleasanton defeated Sandhills Valley 62-20 to round out the regular season. Pleasanton returns to the playoffs after a two-year absence after running the table in the regular season to an unblemished record. In 2020, the Bulldogs finished as runners up. .Brennan Lindner (1,519 total yards, 24 TD’s; 44 tackles, 7 INT’s) is a leader on both sides of the ball. DL Luke Pawloski (61 tackles, 14 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 2 INT’s) and Jaysen Cronin (49 tackles, 15.5 TFL, nine sacks) top a productive unit defensively. Sandhills Valley will be in search of its first playoff win in program history in its four appearance in the playoffs. For the Mavericks, QB Leyton Connell (1,510 total yards, 20 TD’s) and Kyle Kramer (62 tackles, 8 TFL) are the leaders.
Elkhorn Valley (4-4) at No. 3 Summerland (7-1)
– Battle-tested Summerland was intriguing on paper in the preseason with a roster loaded with seniors. Quarterback Michael Koenig (1,395 passing yards, 22 TD’s) leads Class D-1 in passing yards with Sam Cheatum (37 receptions, 682 yards, 12 TD’s) the top target in the passing game. DL Keaton Thiele (87 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 sacks) anchors the defensive line for the Bobcats. Elkhorn Valley won first playoff games in program history last season as it reached the quarterfinals. Mason Nitz (1,245 total yards, 20 TD’s) leads the Falcons on offense, while Kellyn Ollendick (6’4/220; 88 tackles, 12 TFL) leads the defense.
Boyd County (4-4) at No. 9 Dundy County-Stratton (7-1)
– Dundy County-Stratton’s only blemish of the season came at the hands of Arapahoe in Week 5. Junior RB Ethan Latta (1,277 total yards, 20 TD’s) is a spark plug on offense for the Tigers. Junior Lane Bybee (6’4/200; 79 tackles, 14 TFL, 4.5 sacks) and sophomore Brock Bailey (72 tackles, 14 TFL, 3 sacks) having been disruptive on defense. Boyd County returns to the playoffs for the second straight season. RB Hudson Hoffman (1,077 yards, 15 TD’s) is the most productive player on offense for the Spartans, while Hoffman and sophomore DL Peyton Wickersham (52 tackles, 8 sacks) are the players to watch on defense.
Hemingford (5-3) at No. 10 North Platte St. Patrick’s (7-1)
– St. Patrick’s saw RB Jaxon Knisley return In Week 8 from injury to lead the Irish to a win over previously-unbeaten Arapahoe. Knisley is a Division I track prospect with a recent offer from Liberty University. TE/OL/DL Logan Dodson is crucial for St. Patrick’s. Hemingford, D-1 state champions in 2014, are back in the playoffs for the second straight season. The Bobcats feature a run-heavy offense led by QB Jacob Bryner (1,075 total yards, 16 TD’s) and Cody Galles (653 yards, 17 TD’s) lead the offense.
Sutton (5-3) at No. 8 Arapahoe (7-1)
– Arapahoe fell in Week 8 to North Platte St. Patrick’s after QB Trent Roskop went down with a injury on the third offensive play of the game. RB William Cacy (1,155 rushing yards, 18 TD’s; 34 tackles, 6 TFL, INT) is a leader on both sides of the ball for Arapahoe. Junior Hayden Sich (46 tackles, 10 TFL, 3 sacks, INT) has been disruptive on defense. For Sutton, sophomore QB Wyatt Pollet (1,563 total yards, 21 TD’s) leads the offense, while Jacob Huxoll (106 tackles, 10 TFL) leads the productivity on defense for the Mustangs.
Perkins County (6-2) at South Loup (6-2)
– Perkins County won the regular season game with South Loup in Week 3, 40-12. Connor Paulsen (968 total yards, 20 TD’s) is the leader on offense for the Bobcats. AJ Starr (122 tackles, 15 TFL, 4 sacks) and junior DL Crew Witthuhn (54 tackles, 14 TFL, and five sacks) are the players to watch on defense. Perkins County is making its fourth straight playoff appearance, making an appearance in the second round in 2023.
Ravenna (6-2) at Bridgeport (6-2)
– Ravenna has won one playoff game in each of the last two seasons. Last season, hosts Bridgeport won its second playoff game in school history. On a six-game winning streak, junior QB Nikolas Weibert (1,341 total yards, 22 TD’s; 53 tackles, 3 INT’s) provides leadership on both sides of the ball, while Cole Katan (47 tackles, 10 TFL) anchors the line. For Ravenna, RB Grady Rasmussen (1,107 total yards, 14 TD’s) gives the Bluejays a viable option out of the backfield. Freshman Bryce Rasmussen (93 tackles) has emerged on defense.
EAST
Clarkson/Leigh (4-4) at No. 1 Stanton (8-0)
– Stanton are your defending Class D-1 state champions and enter the postseason riding a 21-game winning streak. The highest scoring team in Eight Man 1, the Mustangs have Barrett Wilke (2,116 total yards, 26 TD’s; 45 tackles) and Becker Pohlman (1,219 total yards, 26 TD’s; 54 tackles) as the main players to watch on both sides of the ball. Clarkson-Leigh recovered from a 0-3 start to become the only team from District D1-5 to qualify for the postseason. Don’t expect the Patriots to throw it much with only 19 passing attempts all season. QB Wyatt Crosley (670 rushing, 13 TD’s), Tucker Matthies (645 rushing yards, 10 TD’s) and OL Korbin Lemburg (6’4/320) are the top players on offense for Clarkson/Leigh.
Bloomfield (4-4) at No. 4 Crofton (7-1)
– Crofton is making its fifth straight playoff appearance and are coming off a trip to the semifinals last season. RB Wyatt Tramp is the headliner for Crofton, while Braxston Foxhoven leads the defense. Bloomfield now holds the state record for consecutive playoff appearances with 37 after its qualification this season. Brock Jeannoutot (1,254 rushing, 14 TD’s, 71 tackles, 7 TFL) and Jake Schroeder (67 tackles, 9 TFL, INT) lead the effort for the Bees.
McCool Junction (5-3) at No. 5 Shelby-Rising City (7-1)
– Shelby-Rising City are riding a six-game winning streak since falling to No. 2 Sandy Creek in Week 2. Carter Eickmeier (1,004 rushing, 14 TD’s) leads the offense for the Huskies, while Dalton Pokorney (98 tackles, 10 TFL) and junior Collin Vrbka (6’4/245; 67 tackles, 16 TFL) anchor the defense. For McCool Junction, junior QB Carson McDonald (2,200 total yards, 39 TD’s) provides leadership on offense. Mapieu Kouchinin (6’6/300; 51 tackles, five sacks) has been disruptive up front for the Mustangs.
Pender (5-3) at No. 7 West Point GACC (8-0)
– Not only has West Point GACC qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2020, the Bluejays ran the table during the regular season to finish unbeaten. Sophomore QB Sam Hass (1,125 total yards, 17 TD’s) and Chase Smith (1,129 rushing yards, 19 TD’s) lead the offense. Pender is searching for its first playoff win since 2021. The Pendragons are led by Owen Kneifl (1,020 rushing, 18 TD’s) on offense, while In a Week 6, GACC defeated Pender 34-14.
EMF (4-4) at Hartington/Newcastle (7-1)
– Hartington/Newcastle has qualified for the playoffs for the second straight season. QB Cole Heimes (1,974 total yards, 39 TD’s; 88 tackles, 4 INT’s) is the unquestioned leader on offense for the Wildcats. Brayden Lammers (6’5/180; 62 tackles, 8 TFL) and junior DL Ashton Wakeley (6’4/240; 54 tackles, 8 TFL) join Heimes as the top prospects on defense. EMF was Class D-1 runner-up last season and has qualified for the playoffs for the fifth straight campaign. RB Mikey Bartu (1,131 rushing yards, 17 TD’s) lead the offensive production for the Bobcats.
Wisner-Pilger (5-3) at Nebraska City Lourdes (6-2)
– Nebraska City Lourdes has qualified for the postseason for the 11th season in a row. Callen Schnitzer and Blue Oggs are amongst the leaders for the Knights. Wisner-Pilger is searching for its first playoff victory since 2018. Walker Ott, Blaine Bellar, and Regan Raabe (6’5/250) are the players to watch on both sides of the ball for the Gators.
Thayer Central (6-2) at Johnson-Brock (6-2)
– Johnson-Brock has qualified for the playoffs in 10 straight season, winning first round games six times in that stretch. Sophomore Wyatt Fulton (1,014 total yards, 14 TD’s is the QB for the Eagles, while Hayden Gravatt (772 rushing yards, 13 TD’s) is the top option out of the backfield. For Thayer Central, Sam Souerdyke (1,086 rushing, 22 TD’s; 70 tackles, 4 INT’s, 3 TFL)) is the team leader. Cole Vorderstrasse (48 tackles, 6.5 TFL) provides senior leadership on defense for the Titans.
East Butler (6-2) at Plainview (5-3)
– Plainview survived a brutal District D1-4 schedule to qualify for its third straight playoff berth. QB Carter Lingenfelter (1,298 passing, 12 TD’s) and Jacson King (665 rushing yards, 11 TD’s) lead the offense for the Pirates. East Butler returns to the postseason for the first time since 2019. Logan Buresh (64 tackles) and Jakson Smaus (346 receiving, 6 TD’s; 36 tackles, 5 INT’s) are top prospects to watch for the Tigers.
Future Playoff Dates
Second Round: Friday, November 1
Quarterfinals: Friday, November 8
Semifinals: Friday, November 15
Class D-1 State Championship: Monday, November 25 at 2:45 pm (Memorial Stadium – Lincoln)
Nebraska HS Football 